Observations from Andesite Peak

Location Name: 
Andesite Peak
Region: 
Donner Summit Area
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 10:15
Location Map: 
United States
39° 21' 4.716" N, 120° 21' 59.184" W
See map: Google Maps
US


Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Significantly less new snow existed in this area this morning than was reported from other locations of similar elevation around the forecast area. Rain on snow at 8,200' prior to snowfall had created a 9cm thick wet layer just below the storm snow. Otherwise, the deeper portions of the snowpack made moist from melt in recent days were well drained of free water and in a state of refreezing. New snow amounts in this area of 6cm during the morning hours was insufficient for significant slab formation to occur. Winds were light with little to no evidence of previous wind loading. Human triggered roller ball activity was fairly limited as well.

Photo 1: Minimal roller ball activity from snowpit excavation.

Photo 2: A bit more but still minor roller ball activity off of ski turns on ENE aspect at 7,800'.

Video: State of upper and middle snowpack at snowpit location.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

20130331 Andesite Pk

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Fog conditions for most of the morning before the cloud ceiling lifted a couple hundred feet around 11am.